Jeffrey S. Bishop

New Works Released for Publication

2012-02-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

Two new works of mine are being released just in time for the 2012 American String Teachers Association Conference next month. The first, Concerto a4 in D Major by Torelli, is an arrangement that I made last year for my freshmen. It's a great Baroque style piece and, I have to admit, I love Torelli, so it was a pretty easy gig!

The second one is an original concert work that I wrote in honor of Capt. Jon-Marc Thibodeau of the US Army Medical Corps. "Flight of the Blackhawks" is a programmatic work depicting a day in the life of these amazing heroes that work so hard to save our wounded soldiers. I have never been more proud of a piece, and I'm thrilled that my publisher did such a great job with the recordings! Check 'em out!

And, as always, peace.

Jeffrey

Voices from Heaven (well, close...)

2012-02-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

Spent the afternoon recently working with the Shawnee Mission West High School Chorale. They commissioned a new a cappella piece in commemoration of their appearance at the 2012 Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop (the state convention for all us music teachers). Their director, Laura VanLeeuwen, is an amazing musician and probably one of the best teachers I've ever seen work a group of kids. When I showed up to listen to my piece and they were warming up, I knew it would be awesome.

And they didn't disappoint.

Laura asked me to set the King James Version of Solomon 8:6, the famous "Set me as a seal" passage from the Old Testament. Most of the versions of this setting see it as something joyful, or praiseful, but I didn't read it that way. Rather, I envisioned more of an imploring, almost begging, for forgiveness. So, being the weird little composer that I am, I wrote it to that end. And those kids are just singing the crap out of it! Superb intonation, amazing articulation, and more importantly to me, they really, really get it!

So, "BRAVA" to you Ms. V! And "BRAVO, BRAVA!" to the members of the SMW Chorale. I look forward to your performance at KMEA!

Until then, all y'all....

Peace,

Jeffrey

String Flingin'

2012-01-12T20:16:00.000-08:00

Well, all-state auditions are done, so that only means one thing: String Fling weekend is upon us!

I'm looking forward to heading west to Kansas State University to conduct the 8/9th grade orchestra at the 39th Annual "String Fling." It's a two-day event featuring students from across Kansas. It's a lot of fun, with lots of non-orchestra events planned for the kids (nothing like going swimming during the coldest months of the year in an indoor heated pool)!

Exciting, too, is the fact that I'll be starting my Ph.D. work at Kansas State this year! I'm really looking forward to getting back in the classroom and getting my doctorate completed. It's been way too long since I've done research and serious academic pursuits, so I'm excited to get going.

So, for all you Wildcat fans out there: EMAW!

And, until next time, stay warm out there!

Best,

Jeffrey

Now THAT'S What It's All About....

2011-12-20T17:09:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season, as they say. And today, I remember the true reason for the season.

It began yesterday when I was contacted by a colleague at school. He teaches our community service program. He's an amazing gentleman and he and I often waste many a minute in the halls talking about classical music, a mutual passion for us both. He had been approached by a principal in a neighboring school district about a family, and in particular, their young musician.

It seems that this particular young musician's family was undergoing some hardships. His mother was a para-professional in the school district and her parents, her father suffering from Alzheimer's disease, had moved in with them recently. She was the only wage-earner in the extended family. And, if you know anything about how well we pay teachers in this country, you can imagine how much less a para-professional earns. She had to take the young man, Jim, aside and tell him that there was no way that they could afford Christmas this year. Jim smiled at his mom and said, "That's okay, mom. All I want for Christmas is a new violin. I wrote a letter to Santa and he'll take care of it!"

You can imagine the mother's dismay.

That's where my colleague came in. He contacted me and asked if I might be able to help. I sent out an email to my orchestra booster group and asked if anyone could help out. And I was dumbfounded by the amazing responses. Not one, not two, but three different families offered Jim a violin!

I worked with one of my seniors and her dad to get the violin brought to school this morning. I spent an hour polishing the instrument and fine-tuning it a little bit. This particular senior had switched to cello her freshman year and was no longer using the violin - a very nice instrument. So, after a little tweaking, I packed it up with a nice little note and some Christmas carols written by one S. Claus, and delivered it to my colleague.

I can only imagine this young man's face on Christmas morning. He's nine years old, so he's right at that delicate age at which Santa may not be real, but he's not willing to risk not believing it just yet. I'd like to think that my student's donation, along with the note from "Santa," will give this boy the joy and wonder enough to believe in miracles for a little while longer. To have hope that, even when life is rough and it doesn't look like there will be enough for Christmas, someone, somewhere, cares enough to give love and hope.

I am overwhelmed with emotion in recalling this small miracle in which I played a very small part. It gives me hope for humanity. It gives me hope for Jim's future. And it gives me hope for my future.....

And after the year I've had, with the ups and downs, the amazing lows and the heart-pounding highs, this reminds me once again that THIS is what the season is all about: miracles are just people who love more, care more, and give more than the average person.

Surround yourself with miracles, my friends. They're out there, if you just ask nicely enough.

May you have a blessed Christmas, Yule, Hanukkah, or just an amazing New Year. But don't do it alone. Be that miracle in someone's life. I beg you, please, be that miracle.

Peace,

Jeffrey

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

2011-11-24T12:54:00.000-08:00

As we pause to give thanks today, I count my friends, family, and fans among my many blessings. I hope that you are sharing your holiday with loved ones and enjoying the little things that make life so good. Have a great day, watch a lot of football, and know that you have one composer in your life that counts you as a friend.

Happy Holidays, y'all!

Jeffrey

WKOF: 1 Bambi: 0

2011-11-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

Well, to say it was anything short of a magical trip to the Western Kansas Orchestra Festival would be an understatement of epic proportions. Well, I guess I should say the magical trip HOME was the real epic part of the trip.

I spent two days with a bunch of great kids in Hutchinson, Kansas as we prepared my new work for string orchestra "Showdown." See my YouTube channel if you want to listen to it. The kids played well, and even though some of them were there for purely social reasons, I think they all got something out the experience (if nothing else, they learned that I am, in fact, one weird dude)! Some of the kids really got into the performance and one even brought my dog, George, a bow tie to wear during the concert. George, by the way, was very flattered and looked quite dapper in the tie!

Principal Bassist, Dalton B. & Our Very Own GEORGE!

The concert went well, everyone was happy, and my girlfriend and I loaded George up in the car for the four hour trip home to Kansas City. This is where the magical journey begins. Because, lo and behold, an hour into the trip, we ran into a UNICORN! OK, it wasn't a unicorn at first, I'll admit. It was a deer. A very, very big deer! It ran out of the pitch black darkness of rural Kansas and crossed just in front of an ongoing car and right into our path. My girlfriend managed some amazing maneuvers, and we clipped poor ol' Bambi just in front of me in the passenger seat, shattering the front right fender. She skillfully got the car to the shoulder and we quickly took inventory of our situation. George was wearing his seatbelt, and was now sitting on the floor of the backseat looking at me like "Hey, what're you guys doing up there?!" My girlfriend and I were both pretty flustered, but were no worse for wear physically. I decided to survey the damage while she called the insurance company and the state police.

I managed to pry the passenger side door open just enough for me to shimmy out. The deer's impact had forced the front right wheel well into the passenger door so it was dang-near impossible to pop it open. By the time I reached the front of the car, all of the radiator fluid was gone. So was the right headlight and the bumper. And, after the very nice state trooper and county deputy showed up, I discovered that the car wasn't the only thing missing stuff.

"Big boy," the deputy said as he held aloft one of the deer's antlers. It had about five or six smaller branches on it. "No kidding," I thought to myself, "you should've seen the size of it's butt as it passed before my eyes!" So, there it was, Bambi was no longer King of the Forest, he was now Mortie, the unicorn. I felt bad, but then I thought about my girlfriend's car. The bad feelings stopped immediately. It was going to be at least four of five thousand dollars to repair the car, and she had just bought it two months earlier.

I gave the state trooper our information while my girlfriend finished up with the insurance company. The insurance folks called us a tow truck and offered to get us a cab, on our dime, of course. "You do realize that we're exactly in the middle of nowhere, right?" my girlfriend told the nice lady at GEICO. "Oh, yes, I see that now," I heard the disembodied voice say. "Sorry." Yeah, sorry, but we're not paying $800 for a cab ride to KC!

Sorry, indeed. For we were truly in the middle of nowhere. It was dark, it was getting colder by the minute, and we not only didn't have a way home, the nearest rental car place was 80 miles away in any direction, and they weren't likely to be on duty on a Saturday evening at 10:30. We were in deep trouble.

Then the tow truck appeared. The nice, albeit socially awkward, man with the Carhartt jacket and handlebar mustache, offered to take us to a nearby town and the only hotel within a 50 mile radius. Immediately, visions of the Bates Motel from the movie Psycho began to dance in my mind. "It can't be that bad," I told myself. Fifteen minutes later, after a very quick ride in the warm tow truck, I realized that yes, indeed, it could be that bad. The only thing this place had on the Bates Motel was that it was brick. Other than that, short of Anthony Perkins in a wig, it was a dead ringer (pun intended).

As the tow truck driver helped us get our things out of the car, he offered us his cell number and business card. "What's your name?" we asked. "Merlin," he said.

And there you have it. In the pitch black Kansas night, after an evening creating beautiful music, a unicorn managed to disrupt our journey home, only to be rescued by the one and only Merlin.

Looking back on it now, safe from the comfort of home, we can laugh. But I don't think we'll be forgetting that long, cold night in that very scary hotel anytime soon.

Long story short, we were rescued by my girlfriend's children the following morning. We hadn't been hacked to death in the shower (not that we would've gotten INTO that shower) and we were happy to get George back home after a 16-hour delay. And I think George was pretty happy, too.

We're still waiting to hear about the car and whether or not it will be totaled.

And we're still chuckling about our "unicorn" and our hero, Merlin.

Life's too strange to make this stuff up.

Stay safe, my friends!

Jeffrey

New Novel Now Available!

2011-10-20T14:11:00.001-07:00

Update! Bartemus has now been released on Nook AND Kindle. Click on the links to the left!

Mostly known for my music compositions, I've been writing books and articles my entire life. Bartemus is the product of ten years of creative endeavor and I am excited and very nervous about this release. I look forward to hearing from my music fans after they have a chance to read this book. And I can't wait to release the subsequent volumes in the future!

Best,

Jeffrey

Western Kansas Orchestra Festival

2011-10-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

Some of the schools involved in commissioning "Showdown!" for the Western Kansas Orchestra Festival are unable to access YouTube due to district restrictions, so I'm posting it here for their enjoyment, education, and ease of accessibility! Looking forward to working with you next month!

Best wishes,

Jeffrey

New Band Piece

2011-10-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

Meet "Galileo!"

It was premiered last week by the Wichita State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble under my baton. Great experience working with some amazing young musicians! Many thanks to Dr. Victor Markovich, Director of Bands, for the opportunity to have this work performed and recorded. It is now on it's way to two international composition contests. Wish me luck!

Peace,

Jeffrey

New Symphony Available for Purchase

2011-09-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

I'm very happy to offer my newest composition, Symphony No. 3 for Strings "Nativitas," for sale directly through this site. This Grade 4 symphony is based structurally on Haydn's Symphony No. 94, but with a great twist: all of the thematic material is taken from our favorite Christmas Carols! Here are the first two movements:

And here are the last two movements:

Cost for the entire 16-minute work is $75 and includes a PDF of score and parts delivered electronically along with a "Permission to Copy." A personally signed score inscribed with your name and the name of your ensemble is available for only $30 more ($105), which includes shipping costs.

Please contact me at nwbishop@smsd.org for more information. Thank you for helping to keep independent music composition alive!

Jeffrey

Composer Ramblings....

2011-09-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon here at the Bishop Composition Factory. I should probably be watching the Chiefs game, but I just can't bring myself to do it. After the opening week drubbing of my favorite team by the Buffalo Bills, I'm a little hesitant to invest that kind of time into a losing effort. I know, I know....what kind of FAN am I? I'm one that's watched for too many years and been too disappointed to care right now.

It's been a productive week here at the Factory, though. I've received a couple new commissions, one of which could really establish me as the preeminent composer of concerti for bizarre yard implements. Yeah, you read that right. I've been asked to write a concerto for "wood chipper, snow blower, chain saw, and axe." Of course, at first I was like "what?" And within ten seconds I was already composing stuff in my mind. It'll be fun, bizarre, and entertaining. And, when it's written for those kind of "instruments," would you expect anything less?

I received word from Kjos this week that my newest publication, "Erebus," is in pre-production. That means that the typesetters have gone over the score and are now getting ready for the first set of proofs to come back. The editor will go over the proofs and send them to me for corrections. Sometimes this can be a little tedious and it's ALWAYS a little frustrating. If you know my Symphony for Strings No. 1, you'll know the infamous "C" in the viola part in movement 2, measure 44, which should be an "E." I checked that and proofed it three different times, in RED ink, but it never got fixed. Hence, my frustration. It's gotten a lot better with the advent of new computer technology since then, but I'm always leery of the process. After spending so much time to create the piece, I want it done right once it's published.

In other news, life at SMNW continues at a breakneck pace. We have a concert coming up on September 27th and I'm really looking forward to it. The students are playing well and we've incorporated some new assessment processes that have made an impact on student learning. And, dare I say it, have made me a little bit better teacher because of it.

I hope you're doing well out there. It's rainy and cool here in KC and I'm LOVING the hoodie/sweater weather!

Peace,

Jeffrey

Persephone's Revenge!

2011-08-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

My newest publication from the Neil A. Kjos Music Co. was released on the String Tracks XXIII CD!
Many thanks to Chris Doemel and the Mabry Middle School Orchestra in Marietta, GA for commissioning this work!

I hope your summer was amazing! I'm looking forward to another awesome school year at SMNW while writing some new works for some amazing orchestras and choirs!

Check back soon!

Best wishes,

Jeffrey

Long Time, No Blog...

2011-07-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

Wow. It's already been a month since my last posting? Geez...it's a good thing I'm not popular or anything. My adoring fans would've been really upset (hi, Mom)!

So, what's going on in the world of this sorta-famous composer? Let's see... Finishing up work on my third string symphony, working title "Nativitas," which is based on Christmas Carols. I'm really enjoying it because it's written in the style of Haydn, so it's VERY classical. The second movement is a hoot, especially, since I do my own version of the "Surprise" symphony. You'll just have to wait to hear it....

Other creative endeavors have been put on hold by some other, less savory, things in my life. Those will pass soon, however!

Until then, stay cool in this nasty July heat!

Peace,

Jeffrey

Western Kansas Orchestra Festival Commission

2011-06-20T07:22:00.000-07:00

Showdown! is complete! My newest work for string orchestra is ready for the Western Kansas Orchestra Festival!

It's my take on the classic Western gunfight: good guy/bad guy face off in the center of main street. But when it seems that the "good guy" wins, did he really? And just what is "good," anyway? Hmmm....

Hope you enjoy it!

Best,

Jeffrey

Chicago, Chicago....My Kind of Town!

2011-05-18T04:17:00.000-07:00

Actually, Lake Forest, IL. Deerpath Middle School to be exact!

The Deerpath Middle School Orchestras premiered "Erebus" on Monday, May 16. I had the opportunity to rehearse the orchestras Monday morning and then conduct the premiere at their concert that evening. The kids were a hoot - lots of middle school energy and excitement. Their teacher, Ms. Sarah Truding, along with her colleagues and family, was amazing. She's a great teacher and her family were kind enough to run me all over town during my stay.

It's always fun to be able to bring a new work to life. It's even MORE fun to bring it to life with a group of people who care!

Thanks, DPMS! YOU ROCK!

Jef

New Choral Work

2011-03-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

Lots of big doin's around the Bishop Studio of late. Lots of not-so-pleasant personal stuff that has led to a small outpouring of really good, emotional music! When life gives you lemons, write a piece about lemonade, right?

This new choral piece will be submitted to another choral composition contest so keep your fingers, toes and noses crossed for me.

Not much else to say until I'm able to say it, so until then, stay safe out there!

Trying harder to be a little better every day,

Jeffrey

New Piece over at YouTube

2011-03-06T17:51:00.000-08:00

I have a new piece up on the Jeffrey S. Bishop YouTube Channel. It's an SATB a cappella work based on an original poem. I want to thank the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School Chamber Singers for their work in preparing this work. And it turned out to be a bigger undertaking than we originally planned....

I wrote the original version of this work around a poem by former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins. But, after several attempts to contact Mr. Collins via his agents, his publisher, and a PR firm, I gave up and wrote a poem that had a similar rhyme scheme (or at least similar syllabic form).

So, although I'm no poet laureate, the music is still very much fitting for the melancholy of the piece itself. I'm writing more and more choral work lately. And I'm loving it more and more, too! In fact, I'm enjoying it so much I've decided to audition for a local choir. I've not sung since college (well, at least outside of the shower, sitting in traffic, or under duress), so I'm taking lessons to get ready for my audition at the end of the month.

So, wish me luck! And surf on over to YouTube and check out the new piece.

Peace,

Jef

New Work on Its Way

2011-02-21T18:43:00.000-08:00

Finished up my newest choral work, an SSAA a cappella work, this evening. It was written for the Joe Shepley Composition Contest sponsored by the Namaste Women's Choir in Los Angeles. The lyrics are from a Susan B. Anthony quote that I've come to love:

"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation....."

I'm not going to delve into the greater historical significance nor the political ramifications of the quote, but suffice to say, as a composer, I feel that it can be read several different ways. As I age, I find myself saying to my audience: "What does this mean to you? How does it make you feel? What's your reaction to it?" Rather than, as I did in my youth, screaming "HEY, LISTEN TO THIS! I HAVE SOMETHING OPINIONATED TO SAY!" It's kind of like poetry, in which the poet always speaks in first person: "me, me, me" gets really old after awhile. I want to interpret, too!

So "Anything or Nothing" goes into the mail tomorrow. I haven't sent a work to a contest in a long time, having grown complacent with my publishing schedule, but since I've not done a lot of choral work, I'm excited to get my work out to a new audience.

And, who knows, maybe they'll let me know how they feel about it....

Namaste, indeed.

Jef

Off to Work....

2011-02-19T07:51:00.000-08:00

Heading over to the coffee shop with my notebook and pencils to get a little work done. I downloaded a new piano app for my iPhone so I think I'll be able to get a lot more ideas down than I normally do.

I don't have "perfect pitch." In fact, I don't even have not-so-perfect pitch, so it can be very frustrating at times when I have ideas that I can't quite get down on paper exactly as I heard them in my head. Unfortunately, the creative part of my brain, the one that comes up with these amazing ideas doesn't seem to get along with the analytical part of my brain that needs to write it down. Makes for some amazingly funny scenes, I'm sure: "Look at the crazy man in the corner talking to himself, punching his phone like that! Stay away from him, kids!"

But artists are supposed to be a little bit crazy, right? Right?

Oh well, off to work.

Jef

Great Work Indeed

2011-02-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

My high school orchestras will join our choirs in presenting our annual "Great Works" concert tomorrow evening, Tuesday, February 15th. In addition to a mass by DeLibes and Bach's Cantata No. 4, the choir will be premiering my newest choral work.

Tonight was the dress rehearsal, and I have to say that I was just blown away by the choir's performance. Normally I don't get too awfully worked up, but I shed a few tears tonight. THAT is why I write music: to reach that special place, deep down inside a person, that says "this music is here to make your life, however brief it may last, a little bit better, a little more hopeful."

Every now and then I have to be reminded how humbling it is to be a composer, to be a purveyor of time, emotion, and sound. I am the luckiest man alive, right now, right here.

Namaste,

Jef

Western Kansas Orchestra Festival Commission

2011-02-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

The Western Kansas Orchestra Festival has commissioned me to write a new piece to be premiered under my direction in November. Drawing from the western parts of Kansas (duh!), the festival features two high school orchestras, along with middle school ensembles.

I will be conducting the commissioned piece along with one of my old standards, "Declarations."

I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to write for the festival, as it has a reputation for having commissioned some really nice educational pieces. Matt Means, professor of violin at Fort Hays State University, and Michael Harbaugh, director of school orchestras in Beloit, are two amazing individuals whose tireless work has really made an impact on hundreds, if not thousands, of students' music educations. Because of them, I'm happy to be a part of this year's festival.

It's going to be a lot of fun!

Peace,

Jef

Snow Days - Slow Days

2011-02-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

Getting a little "cabin fever" here in KC. Two more snow days and it's very, very cold outside!

I haven't seen this much snow in Kansas in the 18 years I've been here, and it's getting pretty close to the amounts of snow from my childhood in Iowa! Yikes!

But snow days make for slow days around the house. Gave me an opportunity to post another piece on my YouTube Channel. And it's probably my favorite string piece, well one of the top five at least, so please check it out. It's called "221B Baker Street."

You get extra credit if you figure out who's address that is!

Stay warm out there,

Jef

New YouTube Channel

2011-01-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

Check out my new You Tube channel!

It's been fun figuring out all this new-fangled technology and whatnot! Next up, the rotary dial phone!

Trying a little harder to be a little better,

Jef

Now That's Just Cool!

2011-01-03T17:21:00.000-08:00

Sorry 'bout the long hiatus, but heck, it was Winter Break after all! And I had a whole lotta nothing to get done! Actually, I got a little more work done on the symphony, cleaning up the first movement instrumentation and posting it, along with a couple other new commissions, on my MySpace page.

I also got a whole lot of World of Warcraft played during the break! Yeah, I know, I'm a dork, but after all, is that REALLY that big of a surprise? So, I rotted a lot of brain cells, had a lot of fun with friends and family, and enjoyed the holidays. My favorite gift was a set of Sony MDR-7506 Professional Studio Headphones! Not only does my music sound great in them, you can hear monsters sneaking up on you in WoW! (Again, I'm a dork. Got it. Moving on....)

In other non-nerd related news, I received the following from Gabe T. in Texas:

I am both a student and an enthusiastic viola player. I recently played in the North TX Region 24 all-region concert, with one of the pieces being one of your songs "Orange Jam." I enjoyed this piece so much, it was both different from classical music and other sorts of music that students seem to play more often than not, but it also contained an element of music that many composes seem to leave out: this piece was amusing, challenging, and most of all fun. Many modern day composers that I know of can create beautiful music, but what is a piece without the enjoyment of the people actually playing said music? I really wanted to thank and congratulate you on creating such a great piece. One song, believe it or not, can make the biggest impact on musical careers.

Now, I don't care who you are, getting an email like that sure can make your day! I know it did mine, so "thanks again, Gabe! You rock!"

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go tidy up something on a commission and then it's off to nerd-land to slay some dragons!

Stay safe,

Jef

Symphony No. 1, Movement 1

2010-12-20T17:54:00.001-08:00

Finished the first movement of my Symphony no. 1 last night. Still tweaking formatting and trying to figure out how to divide it up so I can post it to MySpace and Facebook so y'all can listen to it! I'll keep you in the loop, as we all now how technically savvy I am.

I should have it loaded by 2012.

More as the drama unfolds,

Jef

Big Boy Symphony

2010-12-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

So I'm known as an "educational" composer. Means I write good music for student musicians and that it's pedagogically sound. I'm cool with that, as I'm good at it.

But, sometimes a composer has to write what he/she WANTS to write. A piece that will build craft while giving satisfaction to the innate need to create. I've just started such a piece, my first symphony. OK, I've written three symphonies already, but this is the first one written in what I would guess some historian a hundred years from now will term "his mature style," meaning that it's written for professional level performance. And it's totally different than what I usually write.

It's fun writing for yourself every now and then, but don't worry, I won't let all this atonality and aleatory go to my head. I'll be writing a grade 1 string orchestra piece before you know it....

Stay warm out there! It's -10 here in KC with this nasty arctic wind!

Jef

Kickin' the Bells

2010-12-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

School concert tonight! Whoo-hoo!

Always fun to create new music with my students. Tonight's concert will feature two brand-new works written especially for their respective ensembles: VGM (Violas Get Melody) was written for our elementary honors strings, aka "Extreme Strings," while "Kickin' the Bells" (my take on the ubiquitous Ukrainian Bell Carol) will be premiered by our Chamber Orchestra.

Lots of other great music happening as well, with all four high school orchestras joining the Extreme Strings tonight.

So, I guess I better go get ready so I can head back up to school for the fun!

More later,

Jef

New Composer Weight Loss Secret Revealed:

2010-12-02T17:14:00.000-08:00

Food poisoning!

Yeah, gross, I know. After I got back from Iowa last Sunday I ate some wonderful leftovers that turned out to be not-so-wonderful. Ended up with 24 hours of sheer torture. Never want to do that again!

Even my Critters knew I was in trouble: the dog and cat never left my side the entire time I was home sick. Cool kids!

But I had to get back to school this week, as we have District Honors Orchestra (of which I'm in charge), a guest clinician (my good friend Brian Cole from Moorhead, MN, who's doing the honors orchestra gig), and a concert next Tuesday! Not a great time to miss much school!

Which doesn't leave much time for composing. But that's alright. I'm putting the finishing touches on the Franklin Middle School commission, so it'll be ready right around the holidays, and my slate is pretty open right now. Anybody need a new piece?

I'm thinking "Concerto GROSS-oh: in E Coli No. 2" would be appropriate!

Try harder to be a little bit better,

Jef

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity-Jig....

2010-11-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

Back from Iowa to the Composer Cave.

The Mom Unit and I did some retail therapy on Black Friday at a nearby antique mart and found some cool wall treatments (a clock and three cool quotes in rather nice frames). I'm a geek for quotes, so it was cool to find nice "art" that I actually enjoy reading as well!

The dog, cat, and Amy have joined me in the Cave as I'm putting the finishing touches on it. New end tables mean more space for books. And, as any librophile will tell you, books will expand to fill the amount of space you have available (kind of like cats and dogs).

So if you'll excuse me, I've got to get my inner-Martha Stewart on....

Jef

Short Week

2010-11-21T19:02:00.000-08:00

Two days of school this week. And then a nice long break.

I'll be putting finishing touches on a new commission for Franklin Middle School in Wheaton, Illinois. They're big fans of "Orange Jam" so I've written them a sequel of sorts called "Pink Highlights." Cool story behind the name (besides keeping with my "color" music): their director keeps a pink highlighter in the front of the room and when a student misses a part too many times they're required to mark it with the highlighter. It is affectionately known as "the pink highlighter of shame." Classic! Now THAT'S a cool idea!

Hmm, let's see, other Turkey Day events? Oh, yeah: FOOD! And lots of it! I'll be heading home to Iowa while my in-laws descend on KC. My folks and I will eat some good food, do a little shopping, and mostly just enjoy each others' company as I've not been home in several months. I'll take the Viola and the Kindle and a sketchpad in case anything should happen to strike me while I'm up there. It's been known to happen. Some of my best ideas were born in Atlantic, Iowa.

I've got a good idea going for a new choral piece that we'll perform on our annual "Great Works" concert in February. Since we have so many girls enrolled in choir at my school, I'm writing a piece for SATB choir with orchestra AND antiphonal treble voices. I'm thinking of doing some cool things with stereo effects (the girls spread out around the auditorium during the performance or whatnot). We'll see...

So, if you don't see any postings, don't be too worried about me. I'm probably just suffering from post-tryptophan coma. I'll wake up soon enough and will be back after it!

If you're traveling, be safe out there! And, while you're at it, count your blessings. It's a great time of year to take inventory of all that for which we're thankful. And you, loyal readers, are counted among mine.

Peace,

Jef

Betsy's Home!

2010-11-19T17:55:00.000-08:00

Got my viola back from the shop today! So, even though she's only worth a fraction of the Beckmann viola I was playing earlier this week, it's still great to have Betsy home! She sounds great and the new chin rest is MUCH more comfortable, especially for the amount of time I've been putting in lately. I think I've practiced more this week than I have since college! Wow!

And that's funny. I get just as much of an adrenaline high from practicing as I do exercising (too bad it doesn't burn as many calories), and there's something remarkable about getting lost in a piece, even if it's just an etude or technical exercise. Music touches us in ways no other thing can, and I guess that's why those of us who make a living at it can't live without it.

So, welcome Betsy home with me:

The Viola Known as Betsy

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to practice just a little more.....

Jef

NEWS FLASH!

2010-11-17T18:34:00.001-08:00

This just in:

If you practice, you get better!

Remember you heard it here first, folks!

Jef

Practice, Practice, Practice....

2010-11-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

In addition to composing, I do try to get some practice in on my instruments just to remind me how bad I really am at playing them! Ugh!

Although, I have to admit, even though I may not be the solo artist that I'd love to be, I do enjoy practicing. What? Enjoy PRACTICING? I know, I know....don't shoot! It's true.

Tonight was especially enjoyable. I took my viola in to Beckmann Violin Shop (a FANTASTIC luthier here in KC) to get a new bridge cut for her (that's right - HER - my viola's name is Betsy, thank you very much), and Ken (Mr. Beckmann, owner of the aforementioned shop) let me borrow one of the instruments he recently made. WOW! How cool is that? To be able to play an instrument crafted by one of the world's best living instrument makers? Now THAT'S pretty freakin' cool!

Now, did I do that fine instrument justice? Probably not. But it sure was fun just to practice on it!

So, if you'll excuse me, I've got some work to do....

Jef

The Secret Life of Composers....

2010-11-14T18:14:00.000-08:00

So, you want to know what composers do with all the money they get off of commissions?

Maserati? No.
Lamborghini? No.
Yacht? No.

Couch? Why....yes!

I renovated my studio this summer, and with a little extra cash from a commission this fall, I finally completed it with this faux leather couch. "Faux" because this particular material is supposed to be dog claw resistant. We'll see about that. Ms. Dog's claws are not the average run of the mill puppy's, that's for sure!

Now, for some wall treatments. When I'm home over Thanksgiving, I think my mom and I will be doing some Retail Therapy!

OK, back to the keyboard. Gotta pay for those paintings somehow!

Jef

Goddard: Blast and Bust(ed) & Dark Helmet's Evil Twin?

2010-11-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

Had a great time this weekend doing a couple gigs near Wichita, KS!

On Thursday evening, I had the opportunity to conduct the Goddard High School Orchestras in a performance of "Declarations" and also managed to talk their director, Ms. Marla Weber, into letting me conduct one of my favorite pieces , "Incantations" by Richard Meyer. The kids played great and it was an awful lot of fun to have a "photo op and autograph session" post-concert. It was a major bummer, however, that we didn't get a chance to have a clinic the next day! It seems that a water main broke near the high school that night so we couldn't get into the building!

So, Goddard folks, I owe you one! I'm also hoping they'll consider a commission for their orchestra - those kids can play! And the string program in town is only 10 years old! Very impressive, indeed.

On Saturday I conducted the Pioneer League Junior High Honors Orchestra in Haysville, KS. Good group. Well-prepared, too. We ended up doing all five pieces of the "to be selected from" list, so that was cool. Best line from the gig, though, was from a little dude in the violin section. As they were walking into the performance, and he didn't realize I was standing right behind him, he said to his friend, "No, really. He looks just like Dark Helmet from 'Space Balls!'" I wondered who he was talking about then it dawned on me: he was talking about ME! Hilarious! And, if memory serves me correctly, I think he's right: Rick Moranis had those big nerdy glasses like mine, and let's face it, I'm short!

Dark Helmet

Dork Composer

So, for all of you who know me and have thought over the years that I was in fact some kind of evil overlord, it turns out to be true: but I'm not a Sith Lord, I'm a Dork Lord!

Gotta love what comes out of the mouths of adolescents....

Jef

Ahhhhh, Chamber Music....

2010-11-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

A nice bit of Chamber Music this evening from my orchestras at school. The top two orchestras performed their chamber ensemble pieces tonight. Best night of music-making all year, in my humble opinion. Every kid has to step up and be THE section. Oh, what responsibility! And OH, what TERROR!

I'm really proud of them, though. I forget who said it first, but playing chamber music is like standing naked in front of a pre-med class: those no hiding anything!

I'm off to guest conduct a couple orchestras this weekend. First to Goddard, KS, where they're performing "Declarations" and then the Pioneer League Middle School Honor Orchestra over in Haysville (both are just outside of Wichita). I'll also get a chance to sit in on the Wichita Symphony's dress rehearsal with new music director Daniel Hege, so that'll be very cool.

Lots of music making this week. Hope you're able to do the same!

Best,

Jef

Welcome to My World....

2010-11-09T18:47:00.000-08:00

I've been getting a lot of random emails lately asking for my birth date. Now, normal people would totally freak out, figuring that some Nigerian Prince was looking to deposit a few million in my bank account should I only give him a "little information."

Not me! I'm always flattered by the request for more information. And then I'm embarrassed. I should be better about getting my information out to my adoring public (which until recently I thought counted my dog, my mom, and a creepy little man that follows me around at bike races). But I digress...

So, this little corner of the Weird Wide Web is the "official" site of Jeffrey S. Bishop: composer, conductor, teacher, and all-around nice guy (okay, maybe not so nice, but I'm generally considered to "not be too bad" by most students I've had the fortune to conduct).

Poke around. Click on the links below to reach my publisher's pages and listen to my stuff and take a look at scores. I'm still trying to figure out how to upload my unpublished stuff (I'm thinking YouTube videos, but that would require me having the technically savvy of an average 12-year-old and I'm just not that talented electronically), so until then, we'll have to make do with what limited pixel-pushing I can manage.

And, should you have any questions or comments, leave a note and I'll respond as quickly as I'm able.

Until then,

Jef